Connecticut's High-Tech Apartment Building Faces Safety Concerns

0:00State officials in Connecticut are clashing with developer Vessel over their first high-tech apartment building in New London, a five-story spot with 30 units on the waterfront. Senior safety folks flag potential fire and building code issues that could spark serious life safety risks, urging the city to inspect thoroughly, and maybe even pull the occupancy certificate, forcing tenants out of need in. The building opened about a year and a half ago after local code checks gave it the green light, including visits from state fire marshals. Vessel uses a panellized pre-fab method, no wood, all fire-resistant panels assembled on site for quick, eco-friendly affordable housing aimed at folks, like mechanics and teachers earning too much for subsidies, but not enough for market rents. Mayor Pasero backs the project hard, calling it one of the safest buildings in town, and celebrating its modern bill for adding needed units, downtown. Meanwhile, Vessel faces pushback in other spots, using state laws to fight for nearly

1:00800 apartments across nine towns, with some, settlements, court winds, and delays in places like Avon and Cheshire. Inspector spotted issues like tricky stair exits that re-enter the building, spotty sprinkler coverage, fire-proving gaps, and no backup power for. The elevator used as an escape route. Corrosion on some steel and separations between garage and living areas also popped up, though a structural engineer says nothing threatens the frame. Vessel insists it's safe now, and getting even better with upgrades, like emergency elevator power, fire-proving fixes, and gap seals, all wrapping in. Weeks. Local officials are teaming with the company to sort state demands, keeping this innovative housing push rolling amid the housing crunch. That wraps Hartford News today. Brought to you with AI.